ACN Newswire

18th Asian Financial Forum officially kicks off today

14 1 月, 2025

- Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, the 18th Asian Financial Forum 2025 (AFF), the region’s first major international financial and business event of the year, opened today, expecting about 3,600 global financial and business elites from over 50 countries and regions- A distinguished line-up of speakers attended the opening session on the first day, including Zhou Ji, Executive Vice Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China; Dr Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China; and Liu Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of the People's Republic of China- Prof Justin Lin Yifu, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank (2008-2012), spoke at today’s Keynote Luncheon, dissecting how to achieve stable growth and drive rapid economic development amid a complex international environment- The AFF brings together over 130 officials, multilateral organisation and business leaders from Mainland China, ASEAN, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the United States to examine global dynamics and financial policies, foster global collaboration, and explore new drivers for future growth- The luncheon on the second day will feature a keynote speech by Prof Stuart Russell, Co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Council on AI, who will share insights on how AI could become a new engine for global economic growthHONG KONG, Jan 13, 2025 - (ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com) – The 18th Asian Financial Forum (AFF) 2025, co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Themed “Powering the Next Growth Engine”, the two-day forum has attracted over 130 global business leaders, policymakers, financial and wealth management experts, entrepreneurs, tech giants and economists as speakers. About 3,600 financial and business elites from over 50 countries and regions are expected to gather and explore how to ignite new engines for growth in 2025 and navigate the challenges ahead.The forum kicked off with opening remarks by John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, followed by addresses from Zhou Ji, Executive Vice Director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China; Dr Pan Gongsheng, Governor of the People's Bank of China; and Liu Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of the People's Republic of China.Welcome remarks were delivered by Dr Peter KN Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, who said: “Future growth will be different to that of the past, as traditional growth models face resource constraints and environmental pressures. Innovations, such as AI, renewable energy, fintech developments and healthcare discoveries, have the potential to power economic growth and enrich human development for decades to come. It is timely that the theme of this year’s Asian Financial Forum, ‘Powering the Next Growth Engine’, addresses these very questions from the perspective of finance and its impacts on broader business communities. The forum will discuss how the finance industry and corporates can support the next generation of innovative businesses and industries to help them unleash their potential and drive global growth in the years ahead.”The two-day forum presents over 40 sessions ranging from Plenary Sessions, Policy Dialogue, Keynote Luncheons and Breakfast Panel, Fireside Chats, and thematic workshops. Topics included global economic outlook, China opportunities, new markets opportunities, investment outlook, artificial intelligence (AI), fintech, sustainability, philanthropy, and more, giving participants a deeper understanding of future opportunities and insights into global economic development.Discussion session gathers international experts to address global challengesThis year’s forum is dedicated to driving new thinking, strengthening international cooperation and trust, and addressing the global economic landscape in a challenging environment. Plenary Session I – Innovation: The Solution to Unlock the Next Growth Engines, hosted by Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR, brought together finance officials and multilateral organisation leaders to examine financial policies in 2025. Guest speakers included Adylbek Kasymaliev, Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers – Head of the Presidential Administration of Kyrgyz Republic; Muhammad Aurangzeb, Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue of Pakistan; Gilles Roth, Minister of Finance of Luxembourg; and Yoshiki Takeuchi, Deputy Secretary-General, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).Plenary Session II – Collaboration: The Road to Growth and Prosperity focused on international cooperation and was also moderated by Christopher Hui. The panel speakers included Roberta Casali, Vice-President of Finance and Risk Management of the Asian Development Bank; Jin Liqun, President and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); and Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary-General for ASEAN Economic Community of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). They explored ways to rebuild trust and deepen partnerships amid global challenges to achieve shared growth and common prosperity.A Policy Dialogue session, Accelerating Growth through Innovation, was moderated by Eddie Yue, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority. Speakers included Bayardavaa Bayarsaikhan, Director General of the Monetary Policy Department of the Bank of Mongolia; Philip Lane, Chief Economist and Member of Executive Board of the European Central Bank; Rogelio V. Quevedo, Commissioner of Securities and Exchange Commission of the Philippines; and Dr Olli Rehn, Governor of the Bank of Finland. They exchanged valuable insights on issues such as global monetary policy trends and the impact of geopolitical factors on markets, helping businesses and organisations better navigate uncertainty and explore new opportunities for collaboration and growth.High calibre economists discuss economic growth strategies at today’s Keynote Luncheon Paul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government, gave his welcome remarks at today’s Keynote Luncheon. Prof Justin Lin Yifu, Chief Economist and Senior Vice President of the World Bank (2008-2012), delivered a keynote speech that addressed strategies for achieving stable economic growth. A dialogue session was moderated by Prof Richard Wong, Philip Wong Kennedy Wong Professor in Political Economy and Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong.Exploring the global outlook, opportunities in China and avenues for cooperationOne of the highlights of the afternoon session, the Global Economic Outlook discussion, was kicked off by Liu Haoling, Vice Chairman and President and Chief Investment Officer of the China Investment Corporation with a special address. The panel discussion was moderated by Victor Chu, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of First Eastern Investment Group, with speakers including Ernesto Torres Cantú, Member of Executive Management Team and Head of International of Citi; Bonnie Y Chan, Chief Executive Officer of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing Limited; J Christopher Donahue, President and Chief Executive Officer of Federated Hermes, Inc; Antoine Gosset-Grainville, Chairman of the Board of Directors of AXA; and Dr Fred Hu, Founder and Chairman of Primavera Capital Group. The participants shared valuable insights on the drivers for global economic growth.Another well-received panel discussion at last year’s AFF, the China Opportunities session, was joined by some heavyweight speakers, including Charles Li, Founder and Chairman, Micro Connect; Li Yimei, Chief Executive Officer of China Asset Management; Ken Wong, Executive Vice President of Lenovo and President of Lenovo Solutions and Services Group; and Wilson Zhang, Managing Director, Global Executive Head of Equities, China International Capital Corporation Limited. They delved into the potential of the Chinese market and investment prospects under the country’s commitment to technological innovation.The green economy and sustainable development are among the key topics at this year’s forum. Corporates worldwide are actively undergoing a green transformation as regulators introduce relevant policies. The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) published its first international sustainability disclosure standards, providing clear guidance for the green transition and sustainable development of corporates. In the meantime, corporates in Hong Kong will fully align the ISSB's sustainability disclosure standards from this year. Sue Lloyd, Vice Chair of the ISSB, will join other speakers to share the latest progress in sustainability reporting standards.Meanwhile, the HKTDC with AFF Knowledge Partner EY jointly conducted a survey exploring the perspectives and practices of Asian corporations and investors with regard to readiness to sustainability reporting, sustainable finance and climate change. The survey results were released today. Jack Chan, EY China Chairman and EY Greater China Regional Managing Partner, said the survey shared that an increasing number of businesses and investors are considering integrating sustainability into their operations, but barriers persist due to the lack of clearly defined frameworks and accessible resources. The survey also offers actionable insights and recommendations for companies looking to embark on a path toward sustainable development.Global investment matchmaking and diverse exhibition zonesAs one of the highlights of the forum, AFF Deal-making continues to offer an efficient one-on-one matching platform to project owners and investors. This year it has attracted over 270 investors and over 560 investment projects, covering a wide spectrum of sectors such as environment, energy and environmental technology, food and agritech, health tech, fintech, and deep tech. The Deal-making session helps foster active global collaboration and generate new business opportunities.Diverse exhibition zones foster innovation and cross-border collaborationThis year's AFF exhibition attracted over 140 fintech companies, start-ups and investment promotion agencies from around the world that are striving to stage an innovative and investment-driven grand financial event.A variety of exhibition zones are featured, including the Fintech Showcase, Fintech HK Startup Salon, the InnoVenture Salon and Global Investment Zone. The InnoVenture Salon offered a platform for over 100 start-ups to showcase the application of innovative technologies across different sectors, of which the Fintech HK Startup Salon has brought together over 60 fintech start-ups, featuring cutting-edge solutions from 22 countries and regions and helping to highlight Hong Kong's potential as a powerhouse for innovation and technology. The Global Investment Zone connects participants with business opportunities from different countries and regions.Sharing advanced insights into exploring emerging marketsThe session tomorrow offers a wide array of topics, including an exploration of the impact of AI on the financial industry. Prof Stuart Russell, Co-chair of the World Economic Forum’s Council on AI, and Dr Kai-Fu Lee, Chairman of Sinovation Ventures, will deliver remarks at the Keynote Luncheon and Dialogues for Tomorrow respectively, exploring the development and opportunities that AI offers for the future of workforce, investors and businesses from different perspectives.The Forum and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) co-host the Gulf Cooperation Council Chapter tomorrow, making its debut this year. Christopher Hui, Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR, and Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, will deliver keynote remarks. Financial officials and representatives of financial institutions from Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates will join industry leaders from Hong Kong to discuss the economic development of Gulf countries and the potential for financial cooperation with Hong Kong.Additionally, the CIO Insights session, moderated by Albert Goh, Chief Investment Officer (External Managers), Exchange Fund Investment Office, Hong Kong Monetary Authority, panelists will share their views on asset allocation plans, maintaining investment convictions, and the opportunities emerging across the wider region and beyond. The session will bring together representatives from internationally renowned large corporations and family office, including Vincent Mortier, Group Chief Investment Officer of Amundi; Bei Saville, Chief Investment Officer, Treasury and Fingerboard Family Office, Advance; Manraj Sekhon, Chief Investment Officer of Templeton Global Investments; and Alexandra Wilson-Elizondo, Partner, Managing Director, and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Multi-Asset Solutions of Goldman Sachs Asset Management.With environmental, social and governance (ESG) now playing a larger role in the development of businesses, Asia needs to look at achieving the goals set by the Paris Agreement over the next 30 years. COP29 this year have reinforced the global trend towards a green and low-carbon transition. In a session titled Dialogues for Tomorrow – Asia Dialogue on Post COP29 Implementation: Enhance Climate Ambition and Enable Financing Action, Liu Zhenmin, Special Envoy for Climate Change of the People's Republic of China, will explore innovative financing mechanisms and collaboration opportunities with several leading experts to advance climate initiatives, as well as strategies to strengthen commitments and cooperation on climate goals. Additionally, Joe Tsai, Chairman of the Alibaba Group, will join the Global Spectrum session analysed the role of corporate social responsibility and philanthropy in supporting start-ups and social enterprises from a macro perspective.For the latest edition of the AFF, the event has collaborated with several organisations to offer special discounts and privileges for travel, dining and shopping, encouraging participants to make the most of their stay in Hong Kong and experience the city’s vitality. Activities offered to visitors include the Peak Tram and Sky Terrace experience, the Aqua Luna Victoria Harbour Cruise, visits to Man Mo Temple and Tai Kwun, dining discounts in Lan Kwai Fong, access to the Winter Wonderland at Happy Valley Racecourse’s Happy Wednesday, and a dining discount provided by Lei Garden. The goal is to give overseas participants a deeper understanding of Hong Kong, promote the conference and mega event economy, and tell positive stories about the city.Photo download: http://bit.ly/42igLNwhttps://www.uphoto.cn/album_ia1082272835.htmlThe 18th Asian Financial Forum opened today at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), running for two days under the theme “Powering the Next Growth Engine”John Lee, Chief Executive of the HKSAR, delivered opening remarks todayDr Peter KN Lam, Chairman of the HKTDC, delivered welcome remarks to participants this morningPaul Chan, Financial Secretary of the HKSAR Government participated in the Keynote Luncheon today  and delivered welcome remarksChristopher Hui (left), Secretary for Financial Services and the Treasury of the HKSAR, hosted two thematic discussion sessions todayThis year’s AFF Deal-making, an investment project matchmaking event organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (HKVCA), has brought together over  270 investors and over 560 projects. After the forum, participants can join one-to-one online meetings to build connections until 16 January (Thursday)The exhibition zones at this year’s AFF have attracted over 140 fintech companies, start-ups, and international investment agencies from around the worldWebsites- Asian Financial Forum: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en- Programme: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/programme- Speaker list: https://www.asianfinancialforum.com/conference/aff/en/speakerMedia enquiriesYuan Tung Financial Relations:Agnes YiuTel: (852) 3428 5690Email: ayiu@yuantung.com.hkLouise SongTel: (852) 3428 5691Email: lsong@yuantung.com.hkHKTDC’s Communications & Public Affairs Department:Clayton LauwTel: (852) 2584 4472Email: clayton.y.lauw@hktdc.orgKaty WongTel: (852) 2584 4524Email: katy.ky.wong@hktdc.orgHKTDC Media Room: https://mediaroom.hktdc.com/enAbout HKTDCThe Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body established in 1966 to promote, assist and develop Hong Kong’s trade. With 50 offices globally, including 13 in Mainland China, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a two-way global investment and business hub. The HKTDC organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to create business opportunities for companies, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), in the mainland and international markets. The HKTDC also provides up-to-date market insights and product information via research reports and digital news channels. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus. Copyright 2025 ACN Newswire via SeaPRwire.com.

ACN Newswire

「中国房车第一股」新吉奥房车港股上市：领航全球房车市场新风

14 1 月, 2025

香港, 2025年1月13日 - (亚太商讯 via SeaPRwire.com) - 新年伊始，港股IPO市场持续火热，有8只新股跨年招股，涵盖银行、玩具、智驾、建筑材料、环保、医药等多个行业。其中，新吉奥房车有限公司（「新吉奥房车」或「公司」，股份代号：0805.HK）作为房车赛道的龙头标的，凭借其小而美的特质，受到资本市场的关注。1月13日，新吉奥房车成功登陆港股资本市场，成为「中国房车第一股」。聚焦澳新市场 以技术创新「开疆拓土」房车旅行作为一种集旅游与生活于一体的生活方式，日益受到人们的青睐。特别是在北美、欧洲、澳洲、纽西兰等地区，房车已成为一种大众休闲方式，2023年共占据约97%的全球市场份额。其中，澳洲及纽西兰为全球第三大房车市场。新吉奥房车聚焦澳洲、纽西兰市场，十多年前通过收购澳洲知名品牌Regent进入当地房车市场，幷于随后推出中端品牌Snowy River，凭借较高的性价比，实现在该地区的快速扩张及渗透。为进一步扩大受众，公司于2019年推出兼具功能性和经济性的半越野品牌NEWGEN，构建起覆盖中端到高端的系列产品矩阵。截至2024年6月30日，公司已成功量产49款车型，可全面满足不同消费者的独特需求。强大技术创新实力，是支撑新吉奥房车持续推陈出新的关键。公司始终将研发放在重要位置，将国外先进的房车制造技术与自身国内外研发相结合，使其能够在产品功能方面不断突破，引领行业发展潮流。面对汽车电动化发展趋势，新吉奥房车依托中国在新能源领域的技术优势，积极开发拖挂式电动房车这一开拓性车型，将成为首批将电动房车方案商业化的房车专家之一。凭借领先的技术能力，新吉奥房车能够为客户提供定制化产品，幷定期推出新车型及升级现有产品系列，持续保持其产品吸引力和市场竞争力。目前，其已成为澳洲、纽西兰市场的领先房车公司，根据弗若斯特沙利文的资料，按2023年的收入及销量计，在澳洲和纽西兰房车行业的市场份额中均位居第二。内外协同 夯实发展根基在澳洲、纽西兰市场，由于道路车辆标准法案的实施，行业加速整合。另外，供应链方面也是一大影响因素。据了解，由于工业基础薄弱，澳洲房车行业严重依赖海外供应链，一旦出现国际市场波动、物流中断和供应链问题，当地房车制造商营运风险和成本就会随之增加。在此背景下，具备成本及供应链优势的大型房车制造商更具市场竞争力。新吉奥房车依托位于中国浙江与澳洲的两大先进工厂，实现高效产出与快速回应的定制化服务。以浙江基地为例，该基地由焊接、喷漆、层压、裁剪及家私五个专业车间及多条先进的组装线组成，高效的生产布局确保了产品能够快速、高品质地交付市场。而澳洲组装线承接最终组装，使其能够迅速满足本地定制化需求。不仅如此，受益于中国的整合制造能力，公司还能在实现卓越制造的同时保持成本效益，从而在市场竞争中占据成本优势。供应链方面，新吉奥房车与众多中国本土优质零部件供应商建立了长期稳定的合作关系，能够实现零部件的快速供应与精准匹配，确保生产进度不受影响。此外，公司还与一家从事全球航运及物流服务的中国跨国企业集团达成合作，以加强其海运物流和及时交付能力。通过稳定的供应链管理，公司有效降低了外部供应链扰动的影响，实现房车的及时交付，进一步巩固其领先地位。通过采用「国内外研发幷举、国内生产制造」的运营模式，新吉奥房车在成本控制、技术创新、产品交付等方面实现了 1 + 1 > 2 的协同效应，为其在澳洲、纽西兰房车市场乃至全球市场的竞争中奠定了坚实基础。盈利能力持续提升 打造中国制造出海标杆在内外协同作用下，新吉奥房车在实现收入强劲增长的同时，盈利能力持续提升。2021年至2023年间，公司的收入分别为人民币299.7百万元、498.8百万元及720.3百万元，复合年增长率为55.0%；净利润为人民币25.1百万元、33.0百万元及78.8百万元，复合年增长率为77.2%。同期，毛利率为16.7%、16.5%及25.1%，呈逐年抬升之势。2024年上半年，公司毛利率进一步提升至32.0%。再看房车市场，过去数年，由于供应链中断、经济波动等因素影响，房车市场整体出现一定的分化。不过随着居民消费升级、旅游观念革新，以及全球旅游业复苏和露营经济蓬勃发展，房车市场预期将持续回暖，延续增长态势。根据弗若斯特沙利文的资料，全球房车市场预计在2024年至2028年间按6.6%的复合年增长率增长，到2028年将超过863,600辆。其中，拖挂式房车以其更高的可负担性、更大的使用灵活性以及更低的成本，复苏速度预计将快于自行式房车。在前景向好的房车市场，新吉奥房车依托独特的国内外结合运营模式，成本优势、技术创新优势和供应链优势明显，已经于澳洲和纽西兰建立了领导地位。本次上市后，在资本助力下，公司有望进一步强化其竞争优势，逐步拓展全球市场版图，扩大市场份额，打造中国制造业走向国际的发展标杆。 Copyright 2025 亚太商讯 via SeaPRwire.com.